Robair wrote:
Proculation wrote:
How the hell can you switch from the Conservative to the NDP ??
I heard that a lot too in Quebec. About 10% of people voting NDP had voted Conservative in 2008.
It tells you how little people care/know about politics.
In some places, especially out west, those are the only two real choices.
Speaking as the guy who is in that spot of orange in Alberta, I'd agree. Most ridings either are Conservative dominated, or have the NDP/independants as the second party. The Liberals have been weak here for decades, and they've not done anything recently which improves their image. As much as some people would like to say the problem is still the NEP and how it was taken here, the problem is that the Liberals have had thirty years (and pretty much a population doubling) to improve how they are seen in the west and they have rarely done anything to help issues here. Usually they choose to exacerbate them, it seems. The carbon tax, for example.
Besides, this election was called on how parties act in parliament, and that itself is an example of how things beyond a party's platform can effect who people vote for. Personally, for me, it's always been a vote between the NDP and Conservatives, even though I used to live in the strongly red riding of West London and the strongly blue ridings in North Calgary and North East Edmonton (now in Orange Edmonton-Strathcona, south of the river).
I might be moving next year to Vancouver, actually, so I could be in yet another orange or red riding whichever way this vote goes anyways. I have a feeling that the reason the NDP are doing well is because this recent surge is the first time people felt there was a viable alternative to the parties we have, and are willing to give it a go, and that gives people uncomfortable with the Liberals or on the periphery of Conservative support a place to move to.
The Liberals have never really held sway for me, even as a moderate myself. Their platforms and plans of action seemed half-done and haphazard, and I've not really been impressed with their conduct in parliament historically. While recently there's been calls on the Conservatives, I don't feel it really balances out the over-arching issues which have impacted the Liberals for the past few decades in the same way. For all the words about how the Conservatives have lost the trust of parliament and the people, I don't think the Liberals are in much of a better position.
CKA Super Elite 
well done C.
